Plate-shaped heating panel in which connecting members are fastened by bolts and nuts

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a plate-shaped heating panel having connecting members fastened to each other by means of bolts and nuts. The heating panel comprises upper and lower plates integrally formed to face each other so as to form an inner fluid pathway in which heating water flows, a plurality of connecting members, each symmetrically extending from the upper and lower plates toward the lower and upper plates, respectively, and connecting the upper and lower plates to each other, the inner fluid pathway formed inside of the plate by means of the plurality of connecting members, and two fluid communication portions for supplying and discharging the heating water, wherein one or more connecting members adjacent to the fluid communication portions are punctured such that punctured portions of the connecting members are fastened to each other by means of bolts and nuts. Accordingly, a bonding strength of the heating panel is enhanced, and even though the crack is generated, the crack is forced to change in its progressing direction and is prevented from spreading, thereby enhancing the pressure resistance of the heating panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a plate-shaped heating panel with an inner fluid pathway formed therein, and more particularly to a heating panel, which has connecting members fastened to each other by means of bolts and nuts, thereby enhancing pressure resistance.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a heating system, having been applied to residential buildings, such as houses, villas, and apartments, employs a structure involving a wet heating process, in which a pipe is laid under a flooring material of a room in a building and supplied with heating fluid, such as heating water, thereby heating the room of the building. However, such a wet type heating system has a lower heating efficiency, resulting in large thermal losses, and requires lengthy concrete curing, resulting in extended construction time. Furthermore, upon leakage of water from the pipe, a mortar layer of the heating system must be broken for repair, thereby impeding easy overhaul while increasing overhaul costs.

In order to solve the problems of the conventional wet heating system as described above, a dry heating panel, made of concrete, a synthetic resin or yellow clay, was developed. The dry heating panel has a pipe for carrying heating water embedded therein or is provided with grooves or fixing members for inserting the pipe for carrying heating water. The dry heating panel is an assembled heating panel, and has advantageous effects in that the construction of the heating system may be completed by simply assembling previously produced pieces of the dry heating panel, thereby reducing the construction time, and simplifying maintenance and overhaul operations thereof. However, the dry heating panel has problems in that, since it adopts a line heating structure in which radiation heat is mainly concentrated where the pipe for carrying heating water is located, generating a severe temperature variation in the heating system, the dry heating panel is ineffective in view of heating efficiency, and in that, since the pipe itself is made of metal or a synthetic resin, it is expensive, resulting in increased construction costs. Furthermore, thermal loss may occur due to piping, and dewing may occur on the surface of the pipe, thereby wetting the panel.

In order to solve the problems of the conventional dry heating panel described above, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,166 and Korean patent application Laid-open publication No. 2002-95733, a plate-shaped heating panel provided with an inner fluid pathway for allowing the heating water to flow therethrough was developed. Compared with the dry type heating system adopting the line heating structure, the plate-shaped heating panel having the inner fluid pathway therein adopts a plane heating structure in which the heating water flows not in a local area but in an overall area of panels, so that it provides very high heating efficiency, resulting in reduction of fuel expenses, and so that the pipe is not required for the structure of the plate-shaped heating panel, thereby eliminating a complicated piping work and reducing the expenses for piping. Additionally, the plate-shaped heating panel is not subjected to the thermal loss and dewing, which usually occur on the surface of the pipe in the structure of the dry heating panel, and allows the weight of the panel to be reduced. Furthermore, the plate-shaped heating panel is very easy to construct and repair.

Conventionally, the plate-shaped heating panel with an inner fluid pathway formed therein was formed by way of blow molding, as also known as hollow molding. The blow molding is a molding method which forms a hollow product by blowing air into a separating mold, in which molten thermoplastic forming material is inserted and then softened with heat.

Conventionally, upon manufacturing the plate-shaped heating panel by way of the blow molding, a thermoplastic resin is pushed in an extrusion die, and hot air is blown into the resin, forming a cylindrical-shaped resin. Then, the resin is compressed by molds at both sides, thereby forming a heating panel with an inner fluid pathway formed therein.

The inner fluid pathway adjacent to an inlet or an outlet of the heating panel produced as described above is thinned due to a strong pressure of the hot air, and an angle of a notch (which is an edge submerging a small angle between symmetrical lines) is further decreased, causing stress to concentrate on the notch, resulting in reduction of the pressure resistance of the heating panel.

Accordingly, in the case where heating water of a predetermined pressure is passed through the heating panel, such a stress concentration around the inlet and outlet can form a crack around the inlet or the outlet, leading to damage of the inlet and outlet of the heating panel, and separation of connecting members of the heating panel. If any part of the heating panel is damaged, the separation of the connecting member affects the entire heating panel, resulting in separation of the heating panel.

The notch of connecting portions is inherently formed during blow molding regardless of the conditions or processes used, and it can be anticipated that the crack will be generated at the notch under a high temperature and pressure condition due to the stress concentration on the notch. Accordingly, it is necessary to provide a means to fix the connecting members with an additional strong force from the outside, regardless of kinds of the resin for the heating panel, and shapes of the connecting members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a heating panel, in which portions of connecting means vulnerable to stress are fixed to each other with a strong force from the outside, thereby enhancing pressure resistance of the panel.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a heating panel, comprising upper and lower plates integrally formed to face each other so as to form an inner fluid pathway in which heating water flows; a plurality of connecting members, each symmetrically extending from the upper and lower plates toward the lower and upper plates, respectively, and connecting the upper and lower plates to each other; the inner fluid pathway formed inside of the plate by means of the plurality of connecting members; and two fluid communication portions for supplying and discharging the heating water, wherein one or more connecting members adjacent to the fluid communication portions are punctured such that the punctured portions of the connecting members are fastened to each other by means of bolts and nuts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a plate-shaped heating panel having an inner pathway formed therein according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cut-away perspective view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A—A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view illustrating the heating panel having connecting members fastened by means of bolts and nuts according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial bottom view illustrating the heating panel having connecting members fastened by means of bolts and nuts according to the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a photograph of the heating panel having the connecting members adjacent to an inlet and an outlet of the panel fastened by means of the bolts and the nuts according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a plate-shaped heating panel according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged cut-away view of FIG. 1. A heating panel 2 of the present invention comprises upper and lower plates 4 and 6 integrally formed to face each other, forming an inner fluid pathway 12 in which heating fluid flows. In order to allow easy manufacturing and forming, the heating panel 2 is made of a thermoplastic material, and has a flat plate shape in order to maximize surface contact with the floor (it is also applicable to a wall or a ceiling) of a room such that the heating fluid may contact the floor of the room over a larger area.

As shown in FIG. 1, the heating panel 2 has a rectangular structure with a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides. However, for easier continuous arrangement of the heating panels in construction of the heating system, the heating panel may have other polygonal structures, such as a hexagonal shape or an octagonal shape.

The heating panel 2 is integrally formed with two fluid communication portions 8 for supplying and discharging the heating water at two opposite corners of the heating panel 2 in a diagonal direction. The fluid communication portions 8 are fastened to other fluid communication portions of other heating panels by means of additional connecting members, respectively.

Fastening between the heating panels 2 can be performed by connecting panel-connecting portions 10 formed at respective sides of each of the heating panels 2 using additional fastening members.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line A—A of FIG. 1, in which the upper and lower plates 4 and 6 are provided with a plurality of connecting members 4 a and 6 a and an inner fluid pathway 12. Among the connecting members 4 a and 6 a consisting of upper connecting members 4 a and lower connecting members 6 a, each of the upper connecting members 4 a extends from the upper plate 4 to the lower plate 6 and each of the lower connecting members 6 a extends from the lower plate 6 to the upper plate 4 such that the upper and lower connecting members 4 a and 6 a extend symmetrically, connecting the upper and lower plates.

The connecting members 4 a and 6 a serve not only to prevent the upper and lower plates 4 and 6 from being deformed due to an external force while supporting the upper and lower plates 4 and 6, but also to define the inner fluid pathway for allowing the heating water to flow therein while imposing resistance on flow of the heating water in order that the heating water may be uniformly distributed in the panel without being concentrated or retarded at a specific portion of the heating panel 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper and lower connecting members 4 a and 6 a preferably have a circular cross-section. Alternatively, the upper and lower connecting members 4 a and 6 a may have other polygonal cross-sections, such as a rectangular cross-section, a hexagonal cross-section, and the like. The upper and lower connecting members 4 a and 6 a having a predetermined diameter are arranged in a predetermined pattern, and spaced a predetermined distance from adjoining upper and lower connecting members 4 a and 6 a, respectively. The upper and lower connecting members 4 a and 6 a have cylindrical shaped negative angle structures, extending from the upper and lower plate 4 and 6, and having a diameter gradually decreasing from the upper and lower plate 4 and 6 to the bottom plane located at the center of the connecting members 4 a and 6 a.

Although the heating panel 2 of the present invention has been described as being integrally formed with the upper and lower plates 4 and 6, for convenience of description, the heating panel 2 may be divided into the upper and lower plates 4 and 6, and the upper and lower connecting members 4 a and 6 a, centering on a central axis of the cross section in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, as the connecting members 4 a and 6 a extend from the upper and lower plates 4 and 6, respectively, the boundary between the upper and lower connecting members 4 a and 6 a will be defined from upper and lower portions d and d′ (not shown in the figures), where the upper and lower connecting members 4 a and 6 a start to extend from the upper and lower plates 4 and 6, to the bottom plane b of the upper and lower connecting members 4 a and 6 a, where the upper and lower connecting members 4 a and 6 a contact each other, connecting the upper and lower plates 4 and 6.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, in order to impart upper and lower portions of the inner fluid pathway 12 with a circular or elliptical shape, the upper and lower portions d and d′, where the upper and lower connecting members 4 a and 6 a start to extend from the upper and lower plates 4 and 6, may be rounded. Furthermore, the upper and lower connecting members 4 a and 6 a may be formed with a groove structure, in which the upper and lower connecting members 4 a and 6 a are depressed at the circular-shaped periphery a of the bottom plane b of the connecting member 4 a and 6 a, respectively. Additionally, the heating panel 2 may be formed with protruded panel connecting members 10 at four sides of the heating panel 2, and each of the protruded panel connecting members 10 may be formed with a straight groove c in which a portion adjacent to the inner fluid pathway 12 is depressed. As such, with the cross-section of the inner fluid pathway formed to have the circular or elliptical shape, the pressure resistance of the heating panel 2 in a central heating system of a high-pressure can be remarkably enhanced.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are a partial plan view and a partial bottom view illustrating the heating panel with the connecting members filled with a resin according to the present invention, respectively. In order to enhance bonding strength of the heating panel 2, after forming holes of a predetermined size through the connecting members 4 a and 6 a at portions adjacent to the fluid communication portions of the heating panel 2 using a high temperature cylindrical soldering iron, bolts 14 are filled into the punctured holes of the connecting members 4 a and 6 a, and fastened by nuts 16, thereby fixing the connecting members 4 a and 6 a to each other with a strong force.

As a result, the boundary plane in the horizontal direction between the upper and lower plates is stopped at the bolts 14, and new boundary planes between the bolts 14 and the upper and lower plates 4 and 6 are formed in the vertical direction. Accordingly, even though the connecting members 4 a and 6 a are separated from each other due to an initial crack, since the connecting members 4 a and 6 a are fixed to each other through the bolts 14 and nuts 16, the stress is not concentrated or transferred to adjoining connecting members 4 a and 6 a, and the pressure resistance of the heating panel is enhanced, regardless of thermal properties of the resin for the heating panel 2.

FIG. 6 is a photograph of the heating panel according to the present invention, in which the bolts 14 and nuts 16 are provided to the punctured holes of the connecting members 4 a and 6 a adjacent to the fluid communication portions corresponding to inlets and outlets of the heating panel 2, which are vulnerable to stresses concentrated thereto.

As such, if spreading of the crack is restricted by means of the bolts 14 and nuts 16, the crack possibly generated at the connecting members is prevented from rapidly spreading to the overall connecting members, so that the bonding strength can be enhanced regardless of kinds of the resin for the heating panel, and shape of the connecting members. Test results showed that the pressure resistance of the heating panel is enhanced by about 6 kgf/cm², compared with the conventional heating panel.

As apparent from the above description, the inlets and outlets of the heating panel subjected to the concentrated stress are reinforced by means of the bolts and nuts, thereby increasing the bonding strength of the heating panel. Additionally, with such a construction, even if a crack is generated, the crack is forced to change in its progressing direction and is prevented from spreading, thereby enhancing the pressure resistance of the heating panel.

It should be understood that the embodiments and the accompanying drawings as described above have been described for illustrative purposes and the present invention is limited by the following claims. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are allowed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims. 

1. A heating panel, comprising upper and lower plates integrally formed to face each other so as to form an inner fluid pathway in which heating water flows; a plurality connecting members, each symmetrically extending from the upper and lower plates toward the lower and upper plates, respectively, and connecting the upper and lower plates to each other; the inner fluid pathway formed inside of the plates by means of the plurality of connecting members; and two fluid communication portions for supplying and discharging the heating water, wherein one or more connecting members adjacent to the fluid communication portions are punctured such that punctured portions of the connecting members are fastened to each other by means of bolts and nuts, wherein the heating panel is manufactured by way of blow molding of a thermoplastic resin and further wherein upper and lower portions of the inner fluid pathway, where the connecting members start to extend from the upper and lower plates, are rounded, and the upper and lower connecting members are formed with a groove structure, in which the upper and lower connecting members are depressed at a circular-shaped periphery of the bottom plane of the upper and lower connecting members, so that the upper and lower portions of the inner fluid pathway form a circular or elliptical shape. 